Marek among wild card winners

Tomas Marek returns a shot to Erik Luxenbourg during their opening-round match of the Sarasota Open Wild Card tournament at the Bath & Racquet Fitness Club in Sarasota on Friday.

STAFF PHOTO / DAN WAGNER

Published: Friday, April 5, 2013 at 8:01 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, April 5, 2013 at 8:01 p.m.

SARASOTA — Tomas Marek once had a gun pointed at his head during a robbery in Bradenton, so the 22-year-old was not going to get unnerved by the amount of shots 49-year-old Erik Luxembourg returned during their first-round match in the Sarasota Open Wild Card Tournament at the Sarasota Bath and Racquet Club. Marek, a native of the Czech Republic and at one time one of the top junior players in the world, beat Luxembourg 6-2, 7-5 to advance to the second round of the three-day tournament. The Saint Stephen's graduate displayed a big serve and big forehand. And he hopes to be on the way to a big tennis comeback. “Hopefully I can win, get in the Sarasota Open and get a few (computer ranking) points,” said Marek, who arrived in Sarasota three weeks ago from the Czech Republic. When he was 16, Marek was in a car when two males jumped in and forced him to drive. They later robbed him of cash. Marek was in little danger Friday, despite Luxembourg's ability to return some of his big shots. Other Friday winners included: Riverview's Michael Moore, Sarasota High's Spencer Arias and former Cardinal Mooney player Kevin Lyons. Arias is the son of former touring pro Jimmy Arias. Play resumes today at 9 a.m.

<p>SARASOTA — Tomas Marek once had a gun pointed at his head during a robbery in Bradenton, so the 22-year-old was not going to get unnerved by the amount of shots 49-year-old Erik Luxembourg returned during their first-round match in the Sarasota Open Wild Card Tournament at the Sarasota Bath and Racquet Club. Marek, a native of the Czech Republic and at one time one of the top junior players in the world, beat Luxembourg 6-2, 7-5 to advance to the second round of the three-day tournament. The Saint Stephen's graduate displayed a big serve and big forehand. And he hopes to be on the way to a big tennis comeback. “Hopefully I can win, get in the Sarasota Open and get a few (computer ranking) points,” said Marek, who arrived in Sarasota three weeks ago from the Czech Republic. When he was 16, Marek was in a car when two males jumped in and forced him to drive. They later robbed him of cash. Marek was in little danger Friday, despite Luxembourg's ability to return some of his big shots. Other Friday winners included: Riverview's Michael Moore, Sarasota High's Spencer Arias and former Cardinal Mooney player Kevin Lyons. Arias is the son of former touring pro Jimmy Arias. Play resumes today at 9 a.m.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output -->